Shaun McKinnon is a reporter for The Arizona Republic who is currently part of the newspaper’s storytelling team, and has covered water, climate, and environmental issues. Before moderating a discussion on the future of the Colorado River, he sat down in the Zócalo green room to tell us what he has in common with Thousand Island salad dressing, and to talk about his favorite spot on the river.
If you could have any superpower, which would you choose?
Oh my goodness! Invisibility.
What’s your favorite spot on the Colorado River?
The bottom of the Grand Canyon.
What salad dressing best describes you?
Probably Thousand Island because I’m so all over the place, as far as what I like to do and what I write about.
What’s your worst habit?
Procrastination, no doubt.
How do you procrastinate?
I wait until the very last minute—which is an occupational hazard of a journalist on deadline all the time.
What advice do you give to aspiring journalists?
Read, ask questions, and write—and then do it all over again.
How much sleep do you get on an average?
On a good night, maybe six hours.
What’s your favorite night of the week?
Friday. Because it’s the end of the week, and there’s a whole weekend in front of me.
What’s the live event or performance you attended?
It was the Broadway touring company of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
What’s your guilty TV-watching pleasure?
Probably Golden Girls.